How Do I Clean a Plastic Shower Curtain?

When I discussed buying a shower curtain with my husband, I also asked him about the best ways to keep it clean, acknowledging the hard work he dedicates to keeping it in good shape. Before he detailed his cleaning routine, he emphasized to me that maintaining a shower curtain’s cleanliness requires a significant amount of time! Therefore, I’m going to concentrate on describing the methods to clean sections of a plastic shower curtain.

The first thing to check is to make sure the curtain has not been recently damaged. A common way is to move things in and out of the bathroom with a roll of toilet paper and wet towels. In this way there is more friction between the curtains and the paper. The presence of water and rubbing will start to weaken the fabric.

Use a mild detergent (olive oil), and then wipe down the curtain, use your fingertips if you have fingers, not your fingernails, as you will have to clean up any residue that comes off. This will ensure that the curtain is in excellent condition.

If the curtain has been damaged or is worn, then use a mild detergent and a non-abrasive cleaner, like a neutral one. Follow the directions on the products as written. This can help restore it.

If the curtain needs to be replaced, it is important to know the make and model. This is because some brands will have a strong bond between the fabric and the liner. So when they are removed the curtain fabric is exposed to water and will not easily come back.

Once the curtain is stripped, it is important to soak it in warm water for at least a half hour. The best way to make sure the fabric stays in good conditionis to wash it with a mild soap (like laundry soap) and mild detergent. I find that I can do this in the washing machine on my low setting.

To save some money check out the local Home Depot for a cheap price, then they do their own label cleaning. I prefer this option as it takes a few minutes to do.

Once the fabric is washed, you can start to strip the liner which has built up around the roll of toilet paper and the wet towels. This should be done in two different steps. You can use bleach and mild detergent, or you can go to the store and buy a product for stripping.

To remove the liner use a sponge with hot water to soak the liner to remove it. Take the sponge, once we turn it over and with a cloth to apply the bleach for as long as you need to do this.

Now it is time to strip the curtain from the liner, use the sponge and some mild detergent and let the material soak in warm water. Using the sponge, you can slowly run it over the top until it comes away from the edge.

After this it is time to clean the rubber backing on the curtain needs to be removed. After washing the sponge you should let it sit overnight in warm water. Once the tub is lukewarm add a little soap and scrub the excess out of the sponge using a soft brush.

After this is finished you can start cleaning the curtain by removing the insert and wiping it down with a towel. Once this is done, let it dry and you are done!